The new season of American Idol will feature the same top twelve selection process as last year, FOX has confirmed.

The process sees the final 24 singers - twelve men and twelve women - perform live every week for three weeks, with two of each gender going home until the top twelve is reached.

The season premieres Tuesday, January 17 with the customary auditions phase, playing out over nine hours spread across four weeks. The 'Hollywood' stage begins Wednesday, Feburary 8 while the top 24 performances begin Tuesday, Febuary 21. The finals get underway when the top 12 take to the stage for the first time on Tuesday, March 14.

The series will air on ITV2 in the UK, Friday nights from January 20.